to force someone's hand
1
6.5
- idiom
- Informal
:
forzar a alguien a actuar
- His ultimatum could force their hand in the negotiations.
Examples
-
Listen, I tried to remove you as gently, as considerately as possible, with the least amount of harm to all involved, but you forced my hand.
-
I really didn't wanna do this right now, but you're kind of forcing my hand.
-
Tell her we must force his hand.
-
We're going to need to force his hand.
-
We have to force her hand.
-
You gotta force his hand.
-
I will force his hand.
-
Your delay forced my hand.
-
The defense budget crisis that forced the president's hand did not happen by accident.
Academic text (1999) -
As the 2013 mayoral race gets closer, pressure from the public may finally force Quinn's hand.
Blog text (28)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To force someone to do something
∞
2.3
To make someone do something by using power or pressure
149
4.2
To try to make someone do something
114
4.6
To cause people to become involved suddenly by strong feeling or events
91
6.4
Force someone to do something by threats
41
6.7
To force something on someone, often against their will
12
8.1
Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them
8
8.3
To force someone to do something by threatening them
4
7.2
To make someone feel they must do something, often because of pressure or need
1
3.9
To try to make someone change what they do by making them feel more stress
1
4.4
Get someone to agree or do something by pressuring them
Persuade someone to do what you want
Antonyms
How Coercive
- Offensive
91
6.4
258
4.8
- Informal
1
6.5
149
4.2
591
3.2
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'force' already conveys compulsion and 'hand' works as a common body-part metaphor for control or agency, so a learner who knows the words can partially infer that someone is being made to act. However, the specific nuance of making a person decide sooner or before they're ready is metaphorical and not directly predictable from the literal parts, so the expression is only partly transparent.
Etymology
Force someone's hand may come from old card games, where players were pushed to play a card from their hand before they were ready. So to force someone's hand now means 'make someone decide or act sooner than they planned'.